KJZZ’s Managing Editor Al Macias is part of an elite class of trusted, veteran journalists who have covered Arizona news for more than 30 years.

When he’s not investigating, reporting, producing or helping KJZZ News Director Peter O’Dowd determine which stories the news team should pursue, Macias helps oversee daily operations for the KJZZ newsroom and Fronteras: the Changing America Desk.

This is second nature for Macias who is a National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle Society member and an inductee of the Society of Professional Journalists Order of the Silver Key Society.

Macias began serving the KJZZ news team in October 2010, helping the station launch Fronteras: The Changing America Desk.

“We only have a handful of news networks in this country and this is the first of its kind serving the Southwest,” said Macias. “It takes time, planning and a solid team of journalists who know how to investigate the issues, listen and ask the right questions. We have that sturdy foundation in place.”

Macias, who has an extensive television background, is helping Fronteras reporters disseminate reports using a multi-media platform that includes radio, web, video and social media tools to engage listeners across the globe. “We’re lucky to be living in a digital age in which that’s possible. This is an exciting time in journalism and I’m glad to be in the middle of this change,” said Macias.

He also is no stranger to building a news team from the ground up. Macias was part of the management team that launched the KNXV newsroom in 1994 and oversaw its growth from a staff of twenty to more than sixty in less than a year. Additionally, he served in managerial roles at KPNX from 1981-1994 and as an assignment editor and manager for KTVK.

During his television career, Macias won two Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards for spot news coverage and public service programming.Macias takes great pride in his public service work, as well. He is a founding board member of the Arizona Latino Media Association and is part of the Raul H. Castro Institute Advisory Committee. In addition, he served Maricopa County’s communications department and spent time as a Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau.A Phoenix native, Macias earned a journalism degree from Arizona State University. He has been married since 1978 and has two adult daughters.

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